Hi; I've been advised to wrap my young paperbark maple for the winter. I need advice on what to use and how to use it. What should I do about the branches? Should I put a wind barrier around it? Should I put an animal barrier around the trunk? I'm new to this so I could use some advice .. thank you
This is a very newly planted tree - late Sept mid Oct. It is approximately 4 ft tall. I live in Zone 6A in Hamilton, Ontario. It is planted in my front yard facing west. I'm worried because if this winter is anything like last winter then its going to be quite cold. I've read that this tree has fairly thin bark (hence the papering effect) that can possibly crack in extreme cold so this is why I'm looking into how to protect it. I'd appreciate any advice. Thank you.
I am in a costal zone 6, but it got down to single digits often last winter, with several storms and a lot of wind. My tree is a little bigger than yours, and had been in the ground for one growing season, but I gave it no protection. It is on the west side of the house and may be somewhat protected from the strongest winds, but not much. I had no damage at all. In fact none of my trees sufferred, and I have less hardy palmatum cultivars in fairly exposed areas, too. Since it is newly planted, you might want to tent it with burlap or something just to cut the wind somewhat and ease your concerns, but I'm not sure I'd worry about it too much. Someone else may want to weigh in on this.
Hi, I'll chime in here. I have a griseum in zone 5 and it is about 3' tall now. I have had it for about 4 years. I got it because it was rated zone 4, but still treated it carefully for the first couple years. I always wrap my newly planted acers with floating row cover. If you don't want to wrap it, you could just pound some 1x2's into the ground around it and make a windscreen with burlap. I do that on some, too. Mine is sitting at the top of a rise and gets wind in the winter, plus we can get to -20 degrees. It has been unprotected except for spraying with Wilt Pruf the last couple years and has made it through just fine. It can't hurt to protect it the first year...just for your peace of mind if nothing else. Kay Dye, Edelstein, IL zone 5